Virgin Australia partner Etihad Airways will end its Perth-Abu Dhabi flights from October 2 2018. A spokesman for Etihad Airways confirmed to Australian Business Traveller its decision to pull the plug on Perth, saying "the cancellation of the Perth route is one of several adjustments that we are making to our network in 2018 in order to improve system profitability." The airline's last flight from Abu Dhabi to Perth (EY486) will depart on September 30 2018, while the final Perth-Abu Dhabi flight (EY487) will take wing on October 1, reaching Abu Dhabi early in the morning on October 2 2018. Passengers affected by cancellation of these flights are advised to contact the airline or the travel agency responsible for their booking to discuss alternative arrangements. While Etihad currently flies its Boeing 787s to Perth, from April 16, that swaps to an Airbus A330 jet as previously reported, until the route ceases later in the year.